Stewco, Inc.

Overview

A tanker-truck terminal and truck-washing facility operated in Waskom, Texas from the early 1970s until 1983. The site had two locations about a mile apart. Location 1 held a maintenance shop, fueling facilities, a truck-washing facility, and two backfilled evaporation ponds. Location 2 held a third pond that received overflow wastewater trucked from Location 1. Materials handled at the facility included glue, resin, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and creosote.

Contamination affected soil, sludges, and groundwater through improper waste disposal. The primary concerns were ingestion or contact with contaminants in those media, particularly at the former ponds at both locations.

Between March and May 1984, EPA and the State of Texas removed contaminated liquids from the two evaporation ponds at Location 1. The work treated and discharged those liquids, removed and disposed of sludges off site, removed 6,830 cubic yards of contaminated waste, and treated and discharged 350,000 gallons of contaminated water. Both ponds were backfilled and capped with clay. EPA fenced Location 2 after determining emergency removal was not necessary there. A combined remedial investigation and feasibility study ran from December 1987 through September 1988. EPA then issued a Record of Decision on September 16, 1988, selecting no further action as the remedy for the site.

Physical construction of cleanup work is complete. Residual contaminants at the former ponds do not pose substantial risk to public health or the environment. Human exposure is under control across the entire site, with no unacceptable pathways for people to contact contaminants. Contaminated groundwater is stabilized in its original area, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site was deleted from the National Priorities List on October 4, 1995, and is now in the operation and maintenance phase. EPA continues monitoring to confirm that affected groundwater remains stable. The site is also part of the Superfund Redevelopment Program, which supports returning it to productive community use.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator.